Closure-operated track opener



F. C. HARRIS 'CLOSURE OPERATED TRACK OPENER Filed Oct. 31, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1 AT ORNEY Oct. 1, 1929. F. c. HARRIS CLOSUREOPERATED TRACK OPENER Filed Oct. 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BYATORNEY$ mm g NM Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES FRANK C. HARRIS, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO CLOSURE-OPERATED TRACK OPENER Application filed October31, 1927. Serial No. 230,139.

My invention is an improvement in closure operated track openers.

' One of the objects of my invention consists in the provision of meansoperable by a closure for automatically opening a track sec tion whenthe closure is moved across the path of the track in one direction, andto automatically restore the movable track section to its'normal closedposition when the closure is opened.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparentas the following description of several embodiments thereof progresses,reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which likereference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying one form of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a device embodying another form of myinvention, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings in Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated one embodiment ofmy invention which is adapted particularly for use in connection withvertically moving closures, while in Figs. 3 and 1, I have illustratedanother form of my invention adapted particularly for use in connectionwith horizontally moving closures.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a rail section 3 is suspended by means of a bracket 2from the under side of the wall 4 defining an opening through the wallthrough which sections of an overhead track, such as a monorail system,may pass. The rail section 4 is in alignment with the rail section 3 andis likewise suspended from the wall 4 by a similar bracket (not shown)arranged on the opposite side of the opening in the wall 1. Pivotallysecured to the rail section 4 is a rail section 5 pivoted at 6. When theclosure 7 is in open position the rail section 5 is swung to theposition shown in Fig. 2 and bridges the gap between the sections 3 and4 forming a continuous suspended rail along which suitable carriers maypass.

It will be noted that the rail section 3 does not extend through theopening closed I by the closure 7 thus permitting a closure such as afirecloor or the like to move to close the opening in the wall when thetrack section 5 isswung out of the path of the closure.

A plate or the like 8 issecured to the movable rail section 5 in anysuitable manner and is movable with it about the pivot 6. A portion 9 ofthe plate 8 extends forwardly bring ing the adjacent ends of the rails 3and 5 into alignment and acts as a stop when the movable rail 5 is swunginto alignment with the sections 3 and 1, the under surface of the stop9 resting on the upper surface of the rail section 3. The adjacent edgesof the rails 3 and 5 may be disposed slightly out of the vertical planeas shown at 9 to further stop the downward swing of the section 5 beyonda certain degree and to allow clearance for the rail 5. A connecting rod10 is pivotally secured at one end to the member 8 by means of a pin 11.Its other end extends through an opening formed in the bracket arm 12and is screwthreaded and passes through an opening in a bracket-arm 12.Nuts 13 are provided for adjustment. A coil spring 14 is carried by therod 10 abutting at one end against the support 2% and at its other endagainst a stop on the rod 10 and provides a yielding connection betweenthe trip and the movable rail section exerting its force to normallyreturn the rail section 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2 when theclosure is opened. The bracket-arm 12 is preferably formed of angle ironhaving a depending flange 15 which is provided with the opening throughwhich the connecting rod 10 passes. The opposite end of the arm 12 ispivotally connected to a movable trip 16 by means of a pin 17. The tripcomprises a main body portion 16 having a closure engaging portion 18formed at one end to extend into the path of movement of the closure 7.The trip 16 is provided type to pass freely through the opening formedin the track. This embodimen'toi my 1nvention is similar 1n manyrespects to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, al-

though it differs materially in some respects. One section 30 of asystem of suspended trackage is fixed to a depending bracket 29 bysuitable means, the bracket 29 being supported from a. suitable ceilingsupport. In this form of my invention I have illustrated in Figs. 3 and4 the invention as applied. to a system of overhead track-age such asoverhead monorail systems in which a horizontally moving closureactuates means for automatically removing a section of track section toits original position when the closure is moved to open position.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of my invention illustratedin Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, may be used in connection with any system oftrackage including overhead and monorail systems. In Figs. 3 and 4 ahorizontally moving closure is illustrated at 31 and is movable throughthe opening formed between the fixed track sections 30 and 32 when themovable track section 33 is swung about its pivot 34.

In this embodiment of my invention, 1

have provided suitable means whereby the track section 33 may be swungabout its pivot 34 to open position, said means including a trip locatedin the path of movement of the closure, thus permitting-the closure topass through the opening formed in the track section. The trip 35 ispivotally mounted by means of a pin 36 to a bracket plate 37. The plate37 is secured to a suitable support 38 by means of bolts or the like 39.One end of the trip 35 is pivotally connected to a bracketarm 40 bymeans of a pin 41. The arm 40 extends rearwardly and terminates in acurved portion 42. The curved portion is rovided with an o .enin throu hwhich the threaded end. of a connecting rod 43 extends.

This end of the connecting rod carries adjust-ing nuts 44. A coil springis telescopically arranged on the rod 43 and provides a flexibleconnection between the trip and the movable rail 33. The other end ofthe connecting rod 43 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 45 to aplate 46. The support 38 is secured to the fixed rail section 34 whilethe bracket member 46 is secured to move with the movable rail section33. The forward end of the plate 46 bridges the joint between themovable rail section 33 and the fixed section 30 when the two sectionsare in alignment, and acts as a stop for the movable rail section 33.This is shown at 47.

The operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows:

lVith the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tracksections are all in alignment providing a continuous track through awall opening, such as a firedoor frame or the like, which track isadapted to carry the wheels of a carrier upon the lower flanges thereof.When it is desired to move the closure which in the present instance isa vertically moving closure 7 to closed position, it is moved in thedirection of the arrow, until it engages the end 18 of the trip 16.Continued movement of the closure 7 in the direction of the arrow willswing the trip 16 about its pivot 21 andwill move the arm 12 to the leftas in Fig. 2. As'the arm moves to the left the depending flange 15engages the adjusted nuts 13 moving theconnecting rod 10 to the leftagainst the compression of the spring 14, and swinging the plate 8 andthe movable rail section 5 about the pivot 6, opening a section of thetrack in the path ofmovement of the closure,andpermitting the closure topass through the opening to close the opening in the wall. When it isdesired to open the closure 7, that is, by moving it in a directionreverse to that of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, and closing the tracksection 5, this is accomplished by moving the closure upwardly throughthe opening formed between the fixed trac sections 3 and 4 whereupon thespring 14 on the connecting rod 10 will exert its compression againstthe rear end of bracket 24 and the plate 8 to swing the plate and themovable track section 5 downwardly to the position shown in Fig.2,closing the opening in the track section and againrestoring thetrack-sections 3, 4 and 5 in aligned position.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is similarto that just described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 except that theclosure is of the horizontally moving type, and the trip is movableabout a vertical axis instead of a horizontal axis as shown in Figs. 3and 4.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereofor the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A monorail track system including a pair of spaced track sections, amovable section connected to one of said sections and normally bridgingthe space there-between,

closure means for moving the movable section comprising a coiled springcompressible by.

the movable section in its movement out of its normal position.

3. A monorall track system including a pair of fixed spaced tracksections, a tracksection pivoted to one of said fixed sections andnormally bridging the space tl1erebetween, and closure operated meansfor swinging the movable section to permit a closure to pass between thespaced sections, said means including a closure operated trip and meansconnecting the trip with the movable track section for moving the samewhen the trip is actuated.

4. A monorail track system including a pair of fixed, spaced tracksections, a movable section pivoted to one of the fixed sections andnormally bridging the space therebetween, a support for one of the fixedsections a trip pivoted to said support and in the path of movement of aclosure, means connecting the trip with the movable track section, andcompression means releasable when the closure is removed from betweenthe spaced sections, to return the movable section to its normalposition.

5. A monorail track system including a pair of fixed, spaced tracksections, a movable section pivoted to one of the fixed sections andnormally bridging the space between said fixed sections, a support forone of the fixed sections, a trip pivoted to said support and in thepath of movement of a closure, a rod connected to the movable section, alink connecting the rod with the trip, and means carried by the rod toreturn the movable section to its normal position bridging the spacedfixed sections when the closure is withdrawn from the space between thefixed sections.

6. A monorail track system including a pair of fixed, spaced tracksections, a movable section pivoted to one of the. fixed sections andnormally bridging the space therebetween, a support for one of the fixedsec tions, a trip pivoted to said support and in the path of movement ofa closure, a rod connected to the movable section, a link connecting therod with the trip, and a coiled spring telescoping the rod and abuttingthe said support, said spring being compressible by the movement of themovable section out of its normal position, to return the movablesection to its normal position when the closure is removed from thespace between the fixed sections.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature this 17th day ofOctober, 1927 FRANK C. HARRIS.

